You’ve been warned! In a few weeks, crowds will descend upon the Magic Kingdom as two major events kick off in Orlando. Get ready for cheer season in Disney World.
Crowds at Magic Kingdom
What does this mean? Well, Orlando hosts seasonal cheer events each year, and those competitions bring tons of young athletes and their friends and families to the Disney World area. Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning a trip to Disney World this February.
First, the All Out Grand Nationals 2025 cheerleading competition will take place in Orlando from January 31st to February 2nd. Expect large tour groups in Disney World and crowded hotels. Typically, we see cheer teams and other junior athletes at Disney’s All-Star Resorts, including Movies, Music, and Sports.
All-Star Sports
Then, a second big event kicks off a few days later. The UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship will happen at Walt Disney World Resort from February 7th to February 10th. This event is “the most prestigious high school national championship in the country,” so we’re anticipating a LOT of talented cheerleading teams will show up this year.
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
So, when we say the parks and hotels will be crowded, what do we mean? Well, you might see longer lines at some of Disney’s popular attractions, like Seven Drawfs Mine Train, TRON Lightycycle / Run, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Slinky Dog Dash, Avatar Flight of Passage, Star Wars Rise of the Resistance, and more.
Slinky Dog Dash
Additionally, if you happen to be staying at the same hotel as a particular cheer team, you might find longer lines at the bus stop or in the food courts — especially around breakfast and dinnertime.
All-Star Sports Food Court
Basically, the first few weeks of February might be a little busier than normal, so be prepared for some crowds. While we don’t expect the parks to be as busy as they are during the holiday season, Disney World still might be more crowded than normal for this time of year.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios crowds
Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts and figure out which one works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. And, they share expert tips and first-hand advice with you about your magical vacation.
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In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.
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We stayed at All Star Sports many years ago unbeknownst to us during Cheerleading Nationals.
In a word OMG (is that even a word)? Let’s just say that we got a room at Sports which shocked me that they had any left but we were trapped in the middle of literally hundreds (felt like thousands) of really hyper, loud and extremely excited tweens and teens. Then there were the cheer moms who seemed to drink a lot of wine at night because after they insisted the girls go to bed as they needed rest for the next days events the moms were sewing their oats poolside and bar side.
It was up very early every morning like it or not I’m talking 4:00am so all the girls could practice practice practice their routines in the Sports courtyard on the Football field. And quiet routines do not exist. If I had a buck for every “READY OK” we heard I’ve been able to bank roll my dole whips for life.
Buses were packed like sardines and the worst feeing is walking to a ride and just feet before getting in line the stampede of brightly colored matching t-shirts came from out of no where and got there right before we did. Hence our wait just got a whole lot longer. I love kids I’m a grandmother and I am happy they have their special times at Disney, but I swore we’d never return during Cheer Competitions again, and we have n’t . Run like the wind and stay away from Disney in February!
We happened to have the misfortune of scheduling a Disney vacation during one of the cheer competitions a couple of years ago. Stayed at the Coranado, along with a swarm of girls. They weren’t bad…they were rather noisy, as you would expect from teens, but the shuttle busses filled up FAST. Nothing like watching ANOTHER full bus drive right by the stop…annoying when trying to go to the parks, but when you have a deadline it’s beyond frustrating. We finally just climbed in our car and drove ourselves to Disney Springs so we would be in time for our Drawn to Life tickets. It was good to have that option, but if we hadn’t we would have been in a rough spot. Would never go during such competitions again.
Oh, god – the cheerleaders!
We also had the distinct misfortune of scheduling a vacation a number of years back at All-Star Music during cheer season. NEVER, EVER AGAIN!
The girls were constantly waking us from a sound sleep by working on their routines right outside our window early in the morning, the constant clapping and chanting through the parks, and the fact that one cheerleader will stand in a bus or ride line and then allow 35 others to join her in line ahead of us (then the cheer moms would get offended and snippy at US if we dared to say anything).
Not to mention the fact that cheerleaders – especially in large groups – do not have a volume control; they are at maximum loudness at all times, even after a long park day, when people with sleeping children on their laps are trying to get a moment’s peace during the (usually quiet) bus ride back to the hotel.
Oh, and speaking as a woman, you have to get in line for the bathrooms before you even need to go, as there are sooooo many girls around. UGH!! What a nightmare!!
Needless to say, after that debacle, whenever we plan a WDW trip, we now keep an eye on the cheer schedule and AVOID, AVOID, AVOID!
I’m a little disappointed at seeing these days, since we’re going to be in Disney World at the dates listed above. I must’ve missed something on my research and planning too, which is extra disappointing, haha. Luckily we’re not staying at an All Star resort, and here’s to hoping having early access to Lightning Lane purchases will help my family mitigate some potential chaos! Thanks as always for the articles and updates!